6 Philly casino applicants line up to make pitch

HARRISBURG — Philadelphians are getting their first, and perhaps best, chance to soak up the sales pitches of six groups of wealthy businessmen and casino companies vying for a casino license in their city.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s daylong hearing Tuesday at the Pennsylvania Convention Center will give each applicant about 45 minutes to showcase their casino plans.

The 9 a.m. meeting will be streamed live on the gaming board’s website. A licensing decision will take months.

The applicants include casino operators from London, Harrisburg and Las Vegas, as well as Philadelphia-based developers and a man who founded one of the country’s largest wholesale fruit and vegetable distributors.